Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Singhala Music Parties with Free Melbourne Shows

Singhala Music is celebrating its second birthday with four big shows. And best of all for music lovers, entry to each one is completely free!

Four of Melbourne’s premium music venues will host the performances on Singhala’s anniversary, November 22. Each event will feature ten bands from Singhala’s bulging booking roster. At £1000 Pound Bend you can see King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and guests. Cherry will host The Frowning Clouds, The Bluebottles, and Sam Cooper & Band. John Curtin Bandroom has one of Singhala’s biggest success stories, Eagle and the Worm, as well as some special guest artists. Head to Pony to catch Barbariön, Baptism Of Uzi, The Murlocs, Fraser A Gorman & Laura Imbruglia, and a solo set from Stu Mackenzie.

Will you join the party?

Image used with permission from Shows in Space Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

78 Saab Announce Farewell Show

After 15 years together and 350 live shows, 78 Saab have called it quits.

During their time together 78 Saab earned a reputation as an energetic live act and solid studio band. Their single “Whatever Makes You Happy” was one of the first released on pivotal local label Ivy League, and Triple J listeners embraced their debut album Picture A Hum, Can’t Hear a Sound. I’m sure they never imagined that name they picked simply to fill out the Australian National Uni campus band comp would be with them for so long.

The band will perform one final gig for their loyal fans on December 1 at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel. Tickets for 78 Saab’s swan song are available now through the venue.

Image used with permission from International Music Concepts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360 Dominates ARIA Award Nominations

If the nominations are any indication, 360 could scoop this year’s ARIA Awards. The hip hop artist has scored six nominations: Best Male Artist, Breakthrough Artist, Album of the Year and Best Urban Album (Falling and Flying), Song of the Year (“Boys Like You”), and Best Australian Live Act.

Gotye and The Jezabels also did well with five nods. Just behind them we see Lanie Lane and Hilltop Hoods with four nominations each.

I’m most impressed by the diversity of this year’s awards. We see so many genres represented and a great mix of new artists and old favourites. In recent years it’s felt the awards have gone a bit too alternative, so I’m thrilled to see mainstream pop acts, dance divas, and rock acts getting their due. I’m not so secretly hoping to see Cold Chisel take out the best group category.

In something new this year, fans will also be able to vote via the ARIA website for four categories: Song of the Year, Best Australian Live Act, Best International Artist and Best Video.

The pointy statues will be handed out at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on November 29. They’ll air on GO! You can see all the nominees at the ARIA website.

Image source: ARIA Awards website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yarraville Club Opening with Rolling Stones Tribute

With Australia losing so many live music venues, it’s exciting to see another one popping up. The historic Yarraville Club in Melbourne’s West is set to become a 600-capacity live music venue in the coming months.

The venue will open its doors in style on November 3 with a show celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ epic Exile on Main Street album. The special tribute show will see some of Australia’s most beloved performers lending their vocals to The Stones’ classics. The lineup includes Nick Barker, The Wolfgramm Sisters, Jack Howard from Hunters & Collectors, Ash Naylor from Even, Dave Larkin from Dallas Crane, and heaps more.

What a way to open this exciting new nightspot! General admission tickets are $25 while dinner and show costs $45. Get yours through the Cherryrock website.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Continues Singles Reign

Another week gives us another Aussie number one album, but Guy Sebastian continues his reign on the singles charts. “Battle Scars” continues to perform, making it the equal best performing number one for the year with Flo Rida’s “Wild Ones.” Meanwhile Pink’s The Truth About Love is her fourth consecutive album to debut at number one. It bumped off The Amity Affliction’s Chasing Ghosts, which has fallen all the way down to number 15 this week.

We have seen some impressive album debuts by up and coming local acts though. The Rubens’ self-titled album has rocketed in to the charts at number three, while Aussie hip hopper Seth Sentry is sitting at number six on debut with This Was Tomorrow.

The Sapphires and The Presets round out the local talent in the top 10. The soundtrack from the Aussie flick is steady at number seven this week, while The Presets’ latest release Pacifica has fallen from number three to 10.
Again we see Justice Crew keeping Guy Sebastian company in the singles top 10. Their unstoppable song “Boom Boom” sits at number seven after a massive three months on the charts.

Click below for this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Guy Sebastian Continues Singles Reign” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Acts Amity Affliction and Guy Sebastian Top ARIA Charts

Another week brings a brand new Aussie number one. While Guy Sebastian’s “Battle Scars” has remained steady at the top of the single charts, Gympie hard rockers The Amity Affliction have claimed the number one album with their third release Chasing Ghosts.

It’s been a week of new additions to the charts, with plenty of releases making a big impression in the top tens. The Presets’ third album Pacifica has jumped in at number three, while Wreck & Ruin, the second collaborative album from husband and wife team Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers, sits at number six. Both acts debuted at number one with their last recordings, but those top ten spots are still nothing to sneeze at.

These new entries are keeping company with chart favourite The Sapphires soundtrack, which sits at number seven.

The singles chart has been a bit steadier this week, but again we see Justice Crew’s “Boom Boom” flying the Aussie flag with Guy. It sits at number six this week after a massive 11 weeks in the top ten.

Click below for this week’s charts.

Continue reading “Aussie Acts Amity Affliction and Guy Sebastian Top ARIA Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Earl Cole Goes Retro with 80s Inc

Perth swing king Earl Cole has swapped his designer suits for a healthy dose of Hypercolour. Earl’s joined Perth music veterans Mark Hemery, Mark Simpson, Kevin Stevens, John Leotta, and Louise Tayler-Lloyd for his new musical venture, 80s Inc. The newly minted six-piece promise to bring the pop sounds of the decade that fashion forgot to the masses.

After warming up a recent wedding, 80s Inc are ready to share their love of 80s party music with their big launch night at Swanbank Bar & Café on October 5. Tickets are just $35, a real bargain when you consider the free cocktail food! As there will be no door sales on the night, you’ll need to get yours early through Heatseeker outlets or online.

Image used with permission from Earl Cole

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bloods Give Unreleased Track Away

Bloods are in a party mood after joining the birthday celebrations for two of Sydney’s favourite venues. They’ll celebrate the anniversary of Oxford Arts Factory on September 15 and play at the party for the Goodgod Small Club on September 29.

Whether you can celebrate with the band or not, you can still enjoy a little present. The punk trio is offering a free download of a special unreleased track “Turn Blue” through their Bandcamp page this month.

The frenetic one-minute song has become a fan favourite, as it signals that a Bloods show is about to begin! Remarkably this recording, produced by their pal Owen Penglis, has all of the energy of the live takes. What do you think?

Image used with permission from Bloods

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Stays at Number One

Guy Sebastian stays at the top of the ARIA singles charts this week with “Battle Scars.” With four weeks at number one, the song is his most successful to date. His breakthrough single “Angels Brought Me Here” was only at number one for three weeks.

Guy’s keeping company in the top ten with fellow Aussies, Justice Crew. Their song “Boom Boom” shows no signs of fading. It’s at number four this week, a great effort after ten weeks in the charts.

The Sapphires soundtrack is still the best of the Aussie albums, although it’s dropped to number three this week. It’s outselling Missy Higgins‘ The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle, which sits at number six, andd Karise Eden’s My Journey, which is at number eight.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Guy Sebastian Stays at Number One” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Equals Chart Record

Guy Sebastian has retained the top spot on the ARIA singles chart for the third consecutive week with “Battle Scars.” That equals his best chart performance, as “Angels Brought Me Here” also stayed at number one for three weeks way back in 2003. Do you think “Battle Scars” can eclipse its success?

The news isn’t quite as good for the cast of The Sapphires, as the soundtrack’s been bumped from the number one spot by Birdy. However it’s still at number two, which is no small feat.

Birdy’s doing great things on the singles charts too. She’s pushed Justice Crew out of the number two spot, but their track “Boom Boom” is still going gangbusters with a number three finish this week.

Timomatic’s enjoyed a big chart debut. His self-titled album has clinched the third spot on the albums chart. It’s sitting ahead of longstanding chart favourites The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle by Missy Higgins (4) and My Journey by Karise Eden (6).

Click below for this week’s Aussie top tens.

Continue reading “Guy Sebastian Equals Chart Record” →